THE PRIDE PRESS
Essex Elementary School Newsletter
December 11, 2020
PRINCIPAL NEWS
Greetings EES Families,
I hope this finds you all healthy and enjoying the change in the season. Our school has been bubbling with new learning and lots of student growth during the last few weeks!
As a reminder, starting in January, we will be remote on Wednesdays. Students will have a half day of remote school from 8am-11:30am. These days will be designed for students to connect with teachers during morning meetings and then engage in their independent learning “centers” for literacy and math. Students will also have opportunities to engage with Unified Arts as well as Social Emotional Learning. If you have any questions about Wednesdays, please let me know. Your child’s teacher should be sharing a sample schedule with you before our December break.
I want to thank everyone for your patience and flexibility with our new pick-up and drop-off procedure. Please be sure to only park in marked parking spots when you come to pick up your child.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Ashley
Title 1 Annual Meeting Invitation
Dear EES Families,
As a school who receives Title 1 funds, EES is required to convene an annual meeting to inform parents of Title I students of Title I requirements and their rights to be involved in the Title I program. This meeting will take place on December 16th at 5:30PM
To participate, click this link: Title 1 Zoom Link Password is Title1
The meeting will provide parents of Title I students with timely information about Title I programs and assist parents in understanding academic content standards, assessments, and how to monitor and improve the achievement of their children.
Thank you,
Jackie Tolman, Director of Learning and Instructional Impact
and Ashley Gray, EES Principal
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SCHOOL COUNSELORS
It’s the weekend...but what to do?
Here are some fun wellness activities to do with your children.
Outside Winter Ideas...
Take a nature walk. Look for animal tracks or signs of animals.
Once it’s dark (4:30pm), head outside on a clear night to enjoy the night sky. Kids will be amazed at this opportunity to stargaze.
Play and build in the snow - forts, tunnels, mazes, snow angels, and of course snowpeople!
Walk or drive through the neighborhood to admire all the holiday lights and decorations.
Help a neighbor by dropping off a card, bringing in their garbage cans, or shoveling their walkway.
Indoor Winter Ideas...
Make snowflakes using paper or coffee filters. Enjoy decorating and coloring your snowflakes.
Have a game night and both you and your kids get to choose a game.
Build an Igloo Fort - Use pillows and blankets to make comfy space.
Read a good book which can be winter themed and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AT EES
At Essex Elementary School, we have prioritized the social and emotional development of our students. We also recognize that to be able to support students in developing skills related to social and emotional learning (SEL), we must assess where students are with these skills. To that end, and in collaboration with other schools across the district, we have decided to pilot a strength based assessment across several classrooms in our school. The name of this assessment is called the "Devereux Student Strength Assessment" (DESSA).
This assessment is designed to be completed by teachers and helps identify the positive SEL skills and potential areas of needed growth for our students. We will reflect on this experience to identify how we may integrate into our district-wide assessment plan for the 2021-2022 school year.
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HEALTH OFFICE
Our school is partnering with Kinsa’s FLUency School Health Program this year!
*Sign up now to receive your FREE smart thermometer
*If you haven’t ordered yours yet, now’s your chance!
*Text FLUENCY to 900900! Open the link to download the free Kinsa app.*
*Finish signing up with our school in the Kinsa app to get your free thermometer!
Kinsa is on a mission to stop the spread of illness! Learn more at kinsahealth.co. FLUency is Kinsa’s school health program. For the past five years, FLUency has partnered with sponsors to provide parents free thermometers and a smartphone app to help detect and respond to spreading illnesses. This year, participation in FLUency matters more than ever to keep your school community healthy!
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SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Hour of Code
Pre-K
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ART
Your child's art as a gift this holiday season!
Kindergarten and first grade art made by your child can be printed on to a variety of items to be given as gifts. Visit the Art to Remember website and look up your child's name!Click here: https://arttoremember.com/school/88N5PH
Happy holidays from Lorien and the Art Cart!
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Seeking a Woodworker and/or Builder
PARKING LOT SAFETY
Dear Families,
Our bus company is reporting many students/families walking in between buses during the afternoon dismissal. With blind spots all around the bus, this is a very dangerous practice for families who walk, bike, or pick up their students.
The EWSD would like to remind families of the 'danger zone' around the bus and ask that you only use designated sidewalks and crosswalks at schools. Thank you!
LATE ARRIVAL / EARLY DISMISSAL
If your student will be arriving after 8:00 a.m. please pull up to the front of the school and call the main office at 878-2584. A staff member will walk out to receive your child, take their temperature and escort them to their classroom.
Please communicate in advance if you need to pick your child up early and call the school when you arrive. We will escort your child outside to you. We are unable to accommodate early pick up times after 2:15 p.m. (1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays) due to the dismissal process.
UPCOMING EVENTS/ REMINDERS
- 12/23-1/3 - Early Winter Break - No School
- 1/18 - MLK Day - No School
PTO
LOST AND FOUND
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**SCHOOL CLOSED DECEMBER 23rd - JANUARY 1st**
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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
*We take care of each other
*We take care of our school
C*A*R*E*S
Cooperation Assertion Responsibility Empathy Self-Control
Email: dsturgess@ewsd.org
Website: https://www.ewsd.org/EES
Location: 1 Bixby Hill Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: (802)-878-2584